1. Minute of Proceedings
2. Marshalled List of Ammendments
3. Papers presented to the Assembly
4. Northern Ireland Legislation (Westminister)
5. Northern Ireland Legislation (Assembly)
6. List of Motions (No Day Named)

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

1.1 Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. The Speaker’s Business

2.1 The Speaker delivered a ruling clarifying Standing Order 68 relating to sub judice.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Statement – North/South Ministerial Council –

Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Sector

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Bríd Rodgers, made a statement to the Assembly on the meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council sectoral meeting for the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights sector held on 6 April 2001, following which she replied to questions.

3.2 First Stage – Product Liability (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 13/00)

Mr Mark Durkan, the Minister of Finance and Personnel, introduced a Bill to amend Part II of the Consumer Protection (Northern Ireland) Order 1987.

Bill passed First Stage and ordered to be printed. (NIA Bill 13/00)

3.3 Defective Premises (Landlord’s Liability) Bill (NIA Bill 5/00)

The Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mr Mark Durkan, moved that the Consideration Stage of the Defective Premises (Landlord’s Liability) Bill be agreed.

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

Clauses

Question put: That Clauses 1-2 stand part of the Bill was agreed without division.

Question put: That Clause 3 stand part of the Bill was agreed without division.

Question put: That Clauses 4-6 stand part of the Bill was agreed without division.

Long Title

Question put: That the Long Title of the Bill be agreed. The Long Title was agreed.

3.4 Adoption (Intercountry Aspects) Bill (NIA Bill 8/00)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Ms Baírbre de Brún, moved that the Consideration Stage of the Adoption (Intercountry Aspects) Bill be agreed.

One amendment was tabled to the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 1 to Clause 1 was made without division.

Clauses

Question put: That Clause 1 as amended stand part of the Bill was agreed without division.

Question put: That Clauses 2-8 stand part of the Bill was agreed without division.

After debate, Question put:

That Clause 9 stand part of the Bill was agreed without division.

Question put: That Clauses 10-16 stand part of the Bill was agreed without division.

Schedule

Question put: That the Schedules stand part of the Bill was agreed without division.

Long Title

Question put: That the Long Title of the Bill be agreed. The Long Title was agreed.

Annotated Marshalled List - Annex

4. Question Time

4.1 Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister

Questions were put to, and answered by, the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, Rt Hon David Trimble MP and Mr Séamus Mallon MP.

4.2 Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Mr Michael McGimpsey.

4.3 Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Mrs Bríd Rodgers.

4.4 Assembly Commission

Questions were put to, and answered by, Mr Jim Wells on behalf of the Assembly Commission.

5. Private Members’ Business

5.1 First Stage – Children’s Commissioner Bill (NIA Bill 14/00)

Ms Jane Morrice introduced a Bill to provide for the establishment of a children’s commissioner to promote the rights and interests of children in Northern Ireland; to make provision for the powers and duties of the commissioner; and for related purposes.

Bill passed First Stage and ordered to be printed. (NIA Bill 14/00)

6. Adjournment

6.1 Mr Gerry Adams MP spoke on Conservation on the Black Mountain.

Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.

[The Speaker]

THE LORD ALDERDICE
The Speaker
30 April 2001

Amendments given up to and including Thursday, 26 April 2001

_______________________________________________________________

The Bill will be considered in the following order-
Clauses, Schedule and Long Title

Amendment 1 [Made]

Clause 1, Page 1, Line 14

leave out ‘three’ and insert ‘six’

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly
3. Orders in Council
4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Department of Finance and Personnel Memorandum on the 3^rd Report from the Public Accounts Committee Session 2000/2001 (NIA 51/00)

5. Assembly Reports
6. Statutory Rules

(The department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.)

SR No 315 Royal Ulster Constabulary (Conduct) Regulations 2000 (NIO)

SR No 316 Royal Ulster Constabulary (Unsatisfactory Performance) Regulations 2000 (NIO)

SR No 317 Royal Ulster Constabulary (Appeals) Regulations 2000 (NIO)

SR No 318 Royal Ulster Constabulary (Complaints etc.) Regulations 2000 (NIO)

SR No 319 Royal Ulster Constabulary (Complaints) (Informal Resolution) Regulations 2000 (NIO)

SR No 84 Rates (Regional Rates) (No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001 (DFP)

SR No 167 The General Medical Services (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 (DHSSPS)

SR No 177 Road Races (Banbridge Road Race) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001 (DRD)

SR No 180 Parking Places on Roads (Amendment No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001 (DRD)

7. Consultation Documents
8. Departmental Publications

Leapfrog: Information Age Initiative for Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Business in the Information Age: Information Communication Technology Benchmark Report 2000 (DETI)

9. Agency Publications
10. Westminster Publications

Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001 Chapter 3

Election Publications Act 2001 Chapter 5

Elections Act 2001 Chapter 7

Food Standards Agency: Departmental Report Spring (Cm 5140)

SI No 965 The Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (Modification of Section 10(7)) Regulations 2001

SI No 1294 The Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Designation of Public Authorities) Order 2001

11. Miscellaneous Publications
12. Assembly Research Papers

FOR INFORMATION – WESTMINSTER PROCEEDINGS
NORTHERN IRELAND LEGISLATION:
PROCEEDINGS AS AT 30 APRIL 2001

Items marked † are new or have been altered

Statutory Rule Subject to Confirmatory Resolution

That the Social Security (New Deal Pilot) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 (SR 369/2000) be approved.

[Minister for Social Development]

Extension of Committee Stage – Trustee Bill (NIA Bill 11/00)

† That in accordance with Standing Order 31(4) the period referred to in Standing Order 31(2) be extended to Friday, 22 June 2001 in relation to the Committee Stage of the Trustee Bill (NIA Bill 11/00).

[Chairperson, Committee for Finance and Personnel]

Exclusion of Sinn Féin

This House resolves that Sinn Féin does not enjoy the confidence of the Assembly because it is not committed to non-violence and exclusively peaceful and democratic means and, therefore, consistent with the Northern Ireland Act 1998, determines that Members of Sinn Féin shall be excluded from holding office as Ministers for a period of 12 months from the date of this resolution.

[Mr C Wilson]
[Mr P Roche]

Mobile Phones

That this Assembly calls upon the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to ensure the complete implementation of the recommendations made by the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones as laid out in the Stewart Report and further implement a change in legislation to ensure that no telecommunications masts are constructed within three hundred yards of any dwelling without full public consultation.

[Mr J Shannon]

Local Government Elections

That this Assembly calls on the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to announce that the Local Government elections will take place in May 2001.

[Mr E Poots]

Award to RUC

This Assembly calls for an official Assembly award to be made to the RUC and its reserve in recognition of its officers’ duty, service and bravery in the face of terrorism and crime and for its impartial defence of the entire Northern Ireland community.

[Mr I Paisley Jnr]

Fireworks

That this Assembly calls on the Executive to establish an Inter-Departmental Working Group in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Office to examine ways in which the nuisance caused by fireworks can be abated.

[Mr K McCarthy]
[Mrs E Bell]

Councillors

That this Assembly calls upon the Minister of the Environment to bring forward proposals to reward financially the long-term contributions of many Councillors and to assess the work of Councillors to ensure that they are financially rewarded at an appropriate level.

[Mr O Gibson]
[Mrs E Bell]

Irish Justice System

That this Assembly notes with concern the failure of the Irish Justice system to resolve the rape/incest case of the daughter of British citizen Sarah Bland.

[Mr I Paisley Jnr]

Road Spending Plans

That this Assembly calls on the Minister for Regional Development to explain current road spending plans in the context of the recent publication of the consultation paper ‘Developing a Regional Transportation Strategy’.

[Ms M McWilliams]

District Council Childcare Facilities

That this Assembly calls on local authorities to set themselves a common objective of providing childcare facilities for elected representatives and staff.

[Ms M Gildernew]

Morning After Pill

That this Assembly regrets the decision of the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to sign The Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Amendment (No.3) Order 2000.

[Dr E Birnie]
[Mr A Maginness]

United Christian Broadcasters

That this Assembly supports the award of broadcasting radio licences to United Christian Broadcasters Ltd and welcomes the decision of the European Court of Human Rights on 7 November 2000 placing no restriction on religious bodies applying for and being granted licences for local broadcasting, at the same time this Assembly deplores the decision of the Radio Authority on 26 April 2000 to refuse a local digital multiplex licence for the Northern Ireland region to United Christian Broadcasters.

[Mr G Savage]

Domestic Energy Efficiency Scheme

That this Assembly welcomes the achievement of the Department for Social Development in tackling fuel poverty through the existing Domestic Energy Efficiency Scheme (DEES) and calls on the Minister for Social Development to ensure that the DEES II Scheme will be an effective mechanism to finally eradicate this problem.

[Ms M Gildernew]

Bi-Centenary of the Act of Union 1801

That this Assembly deplores the intention of the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to preside over the commemoration of the Bi-Centenary of the Act of Union 1801.

[Mrs M Nelis]

TG4

That this Assembly calls on the relevant Irish and British Broadcasting Authorities to ensure the complete availability of TG4 throughout Ireland.

[Mr B McElduff]

Alcohol Bye-Laws

That this Assembly believes that current levels of enforcement of alcohol bye-laws are inadequate to address the problem of outdoor drinking; and that increased resources should be made available for the enforcement of the bye-laws and for a province-wide education programme to alert younger people to the dangers of under-age drinking.

[Mrs J Carson]

Morning After Pill

That this Assembly expresses concern at the decision by the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety making the ‘morning after pill’ available to 16 year olds without debate in the Assembly or the Health Committee, and calls on the Minister to reverse her decision.

[Mrs I Robinson]

Security Policy

That this Assembly calls on Her Majesty’s Government, in the absence of actual decommissioning, to implement an effective security policy to recover all illegal weapons and explosives from the terrorist organisations.

[Mr P Roche]
[Mr N Boyd]

Child Protection

That this Assembly calls on the Ministers responsible for the protection of children, in view of the anomalies in the current vetting system, to take the necessary interim steps to improve the position on vetting those suitable to work with children.

[Ms P Lewsley]

Fluoridation of Drinking Water

That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to discontinue the fluoridation of drinking water.

[Mr J Dallat]

Traceability Scheme

That this Assembly calls on the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to take all steps necessary to ensure the integrity of the Traceability Scheme for Northern Ireland Beef and to investigate the labelling and subsequent sell-on of all beef processed in Northern Ireland Meat Plants.

[Mr G Savage]

Inter-Departmental Working Group

That this Assembly calls on the Executive to establish an Inter-Departmental Working Group to make recommendations on the removal of paramilitary flags, emblems and graffiti from public property.

[Mr K McCarthy]

‘Barriers to Growth and Survival’ Report

That this Assembly notes the Report, ‘Barriers to Growth and Survival’ published by the Federation of Small Businesses in November 2000; and calls on the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to initiate an investigation into the high level of interest charges imposed by banks in Northern Ireland on small businesses.

[Mr B Armstrong]

Audit Office Report

That this Assembly notes the recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on ‘Road Opening by Utilities’ (NIA 35/00), published on 22 February 2001.

[Mr J Kelly]

Social Exclusion of Young People

That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Further and Higher Education, Training and Employment to review urgently those policies aimed at reducing the social exclusion of young people in Northern Ireland and to initiate programmes and initiatives which will reduce the number of young people in Northern Ireland entering long-term unemployment.

[Mr J Dallat]

Gender Equality

That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment, given the reports of skills shortages in the employment sector, to review training provision for women in Northern Ireland and to promote a more co-ordinated training service to enhance gender equality in the training sector.

[Mrs P Lewsley]

Nursery Schools Admissions

That this Assembly recognises the problems caused by the current admissions criteria for Nursery Schools and calls upon the Minister of Education to review the criteria in order to remove the disadvantage which it causes for working parents.

[Mr S Wilson]

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

That this Assembly expresses grave concern about the impact of the foot-and-mouth disease on the agricultural industry in Northern Ireland; calls on the government to provide compensation for those who have suffered loss of livelihood as a consequence, and urges the Northern Ireland Executive to seek substantial and special funding from the Treasury in London to deal with this matter.

[Mr E McGrady MP]

Funding for Childcare Provision

That this Assembly calls upon the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to make adequate funding available for all aspects of childcare provision in Northern Ireland.

[Mr J Shannon]
[Mr W Hay]

Hepatitis C

That this Assembly, recognising the plight of those infected with Hepatitis C contracted as a result of health service treatment with contaminated blood products, calls on the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to provide assurances about the propriety of further treatment to reduce the risks of further infection and further calls on the Minister to seek compensation for those infected during health service treatment.

[Mr J Kelly]
[Ms S Ramsey]

7^th Report of Community Attitudes Survey

That this Assembly welcomes the publication of the 7^th Report of Community Attitudes Survey by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) and welcomes its findings that 77% of those surveyed, "believed the police deal fairly with everyone." (Table 2.31, NISRA, Community Attitudes Survey, 7^th Report, December 2000)

[Mr R Beggs]
[Mr S Neeson]

Terrorist Attacks on Northern Ireland Railways

That this Assembly condemns the ongoing terrorist attacks on the railway infrastructure throughout Northern Ireland.

[Mr W Hay]
[Mr J Wells]

Allocation of Schools Capital Spending

That this Assembly disapproves of the unbalanced and party political allocation of schools capital spending announced in February 2001 by the Minister of Education.

[Mr S Wilson]

Award to UDR

That this Assembly calls for an official Assembly award to be made to the UDR in recognition of its members’ duty, service, bravery and courage in the face of unrelenting terrorism and crime in Northern Ireland and for its defence of the entire community.

[Mr I Paisley Jnr]

Sellafield Nuclear Plant

That this Assembly calls for the run-down and closure at the earliest possible date of nuclear processing activities carried out at Sellafield.

[Mr K McCarthy]

Single European Currency

That this Assembly congratulates the European Movement on its efforts to generate interest in the debate on a Single European Currency and calls on the Assembly to support its efforts.

[Ms J Morrice]

GAA

That this Assembly condemns the anti-British ethos of the Gaelic Athletic Association, particularly Rule 21 within its written constitution which discriminates against members of the Security Forces from participation, and calls on Government funding to the GAA to be stopped with immediate effect until such discriminatory rules are removed from the GAA’s constitution.

[Mr N Boyd]

Organic Farming

That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to bring forward plans for environmental enhancement schemes, incentives and support to ensure that targets for organic farming of 3% are increased towards 20%.

[Mr G McHugh]
[Ms M Gildernew]

Function and Funding of Training Organisations

That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to review the function and funding of Training Organisations.

[Mr A Maskey]

Financial Assistance to the Agribusiness Sector

That this Assembly notes the serious impact of foot-and-mouth disease on the agribusiness sector, and calls on the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to consider giving financial assistance to those most affected, in particular the livestock marts which play a vital role in the agricultural sector.

[Mr G Kane]
[Mrs I Robinson]

Local Elections

That this Assembly condemns the decision of the Secretary of State to postpone the local elections due to be held on 16 May 2001.

[Mr D Ford]

Financial Assistance for Foster Carers

That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to bring forward legislative proposals to address the inconsistencies in the arrangements at Board and Trust level for providing financial assistance to those offering foster care for young people in the community.

[Ms S Ramsey]
[Mr J Kelly]

Processing of Incapacity Benefit and Disability Living Allowance

That this Assembly calls on the Minister for Social Development to review the process involved in respect of claims for Incapacity Benefit and Disability Living Allowance, in the light of its impact on the chronically sick and disabled.

[Mrs M Nelis]

Plastic Bullets

That this Assembly calls on the British Government to impose an immediate and total ban on the use of plastic bullets.

[Mrs M Nelis]

24 APRIL 2001 / Menu / 1 MAY 2001